A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 125

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dent and manager, built the present mill and yards on Anaheim road and American avenue, installed modern machinery and a thirty-horse- power electric power plant in the quarters, which are 150x340 feet in dimensions. The mill and yards employ fourteen hands, and here are manufactured all kinds of finished lumber ma- terials, including doors and window sash.

Mr. Cruickshank was married in San Ber- nardino to Miss Melissa Furey, a native of Penn- sylvania, and they have become the parents of four children, William F., Bernard A., Helen E. and Ruth Marian. The family residence is located on Ocean and Alamitos avenues, and was erected by Mr. Cruickshank. He is a mem- ber of the Long Beach Retail Lumber Dealers' Association, and served one term as city build- ing inspector, having been the first appointee to that office after the reorgaization. Fraternally he is a member of Long Beach Lodge No. 390, I. O. O. F., and a director and secretary of the I. O. O. F. Building Association; of the Wood- men of the World, and the Foresters. He is an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer and trustee. Politically he is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and in all matters of social or civic interest lends his support to those en- terprises which tend to elevate and upbuild the community.

FRANCIS CULVER. Conspicuous among the early pioneer settlers of California was Francis F. Culver. late of Compton, who was a resident of the state for upwards of half a century, and in the development and advance- ment of its mining, agricultural, industrial and financial activities took a prominent part. He witnessed many wonderful transformations in the face of the country, the pathless forests and dreary waste lands being made habitable by the hard labor of the first settlers, and the small hamlets and mining camps of the early days de- veloping into thriving villages and populous towns and cities. Of old colonial stock, and the descendant of a representative New England family, he was born, January 28, 1821, in Poult- ney, Rutland county, Vt., and died at his home in Compton, Cal., September 25, 1905, beloved and respected by the community in which he had so long resided. His parents, Isaac and Maria (Reed) Culver, were born and reared in New England, and were there married. After living in Vermont for several years, they re- moved to New York, and there spent the re- mainder of their lives.

Brought up beneath the parental roof-tree, Francis F. Culver received better educational advantages than many of boys of his times, be-

ing graduated from high school, seminary and university. While still a young man, early in 1849, he with several companions bought the Edward Everett, a sailing vessel, which was the first boat to leave Boston harbor for California. They came by way of Cape Horn to the Golden Gate, arriving in San Francisco on July 6. Their cargo included a small steamboat, the first steamer ever seen on the Sacramento river, where it remained in service for many years, being used for passenger and freight service. Going subsequently to the mines, Mr. Culver met with good success in his operations, and afterwards invested his money in land, finally turning his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a number of years he was thus employed in Compton, but in the latter part of his long life lived retired from active business, enjoy- ing in comfort and leisure the golden fruits of his former years of labor.

May 17, 1852, in Lewiston, N. Y., Mr. Cul- ver married Henrietta M. Raymond, a daughter of Caleb and Sophronia (Smith) Raymond, both of whom spent the closing years of their lives in New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Culver reared five children, namely: Ella R., wife of T. F. Ross, of Compton; Mae, wife of Benton Flood, living at No. 947 Georgia street, Los Angeles; Frank F., a wood and coal dealer, and with his wife, formerly Lizzie McMullan, is liv- ing at No. 1331 Hobson street, Los Angeles; William B., engaged in ranching in Newhall, this county, and who by his marriage with Eva Stevens, has nine children; and Frederick M., of Orange county, a ranchman, who married Agnes Fairchilds. Politically Mr. Culver was identified with the Republican party, and re- ligiously he was an official member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which his widow is also a member. Both Mr. and Mrs. Culver united with the Pioneers' Association several years ago, and contributed towards its support and its prosperity.

WILLIAM CAMERON DAVIS. In the vicinity of El Monte is located the walnut ranch of thirty-seven acres which belongs to William C. Davis, who came to this section in 1893 and has since accumulated a substantial property, and at the same time has built up for himself a place among the respected and esteemed citizens of the community. He is a native of Milton, Rock county, Wis., born December 24, 1843. The family was originally located in New York, where the grandfather, Jeremiah, lived and died. Jeremiah R. Davis was born in Allegany county, N. Y., and there married. With his wife he settled as a pioneer in Milton, Wis., and there both passed away at advanced ages. They be-

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came the parents of ten children, of whom eight attained maturity, two sons serving in the Thir- teenth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil war. Both survived the perils and hard- ships of active warfare and returned to civic life, Joseph locating in Iowa, where his death occurred.

The youngest child in the large family born to his parents, William Cameron Davis was reared to young manhood on the paternal farm and was early instilled with the principles char- acteristic of his forefathers. Following his pub- lic-school training he entered Milton College, which he left in 1861 to become a soldier in Com- pany K. Thirteenth Regiment Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry. He was mustered in at Janes- ville and with his regiment was at once sent to Kansas, engaging in various skirmishes during the first year; 1862 was passed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi and the bal- ance of the time in the southern states. He was mustered out of service in Nashville, Tenn., in January, 1865. when he returned to Wisconsin.

Casting about for a future, Mr. Davis was attracted to Pennsylvania by the oil excitement, and in Pitt Hole City was employed in every de- partment of the oil industry. He purchased a boat and transported oil down Oil creek to Oil City. Reno and Pittsburg for some years, fol- lowing which, from 1865 to 1893, he operated in various fields throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. Withdrawing his interests in that connection, Mr. Davis came to California and in the vicinity of El Monte purchased a tract of seventeen acres, which he has since set out in walnuts, improving and cultivating the property, and adding to it by the purchase of two ten-acre tracts, all in the same district and all being set to walnuts. All improvements have been made entirely by his own efforts and are a credit to this section of the country, evidencing both the industry and the ability of the owner. Besides giving his attention to horticulture he has also spent one year in the oil business in the Whittier field and two years in the Fullerton field, with the Puente Oil Company.

In Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Nancy B. Henry, who was born in Jamestown, Pa., and died in California in Octo- ber. 1901. They became the parents of three children, of whom Lee W. died in youth ; Frank H. died at the age of twenty-seven years; and Claude WV. died at the age of twenty years. De- cember 19, 1906, Mr. Davis was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Newman, a native of Wisconsin. In his fraternal relations he is quite prominent, having been made a Mason in Oil Creek Lodge No. 303, in Titusville, Pa., raised to the degree of Royal Arch in the same city, and later to the degree of Knight Templar in

Rose Croix Commandery No. 38, also in Titus- ville. He is now identified with Lexington Lodge No. 104, F. & A. M., in El Monte. He is a Republican in politics and a stanch adherent of party principles.

BARTON WALTER DANCER. The greater part of the life of Barton W. Dancer has been passed in El Monte and its vicinity, where he has improved three different ranches and has been largely instrumental in the up- building of this section. He was born in Cor- inth, Miss., January 17, 1870, a son of Elisha Dancer, who was born in England and brought to America by his parents in childhood. He was reared in Georgia, but in manhood located in Mississippi, where he engaged as a machinist until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife, formerly Jemima Wardlow, was born in North Carolina, the representative of Scotch- Irish ancestry, and died in Mississippi in 1875.

Of the four children born to his parents, Bar- ton Walter Dancer was next to the youngest and was but three years old at the time of his father's death and five when he lost his mother. In 1881 he came to California with his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Emily (Wardlow ) Bird, who located in Artesia, and in that place he received his education in the public schools. His first employment was as a farm hand at the age of eighteen years, and shortly afterward he pur- chased ten acres of land three-quarters of a mile northeast of El Monte. This property he imme- diately set out to walnuts, put in a pumping plant, and at the same time raised alfalfa. Later he sold the property, realizing handsome returns from his efforts. His next purchase consisted of thirty acres in the vicinity of his first home, and here he also set out walnuts, installing a pump- ing plant, and proceeded to a cultivation of the place. After disposing of the property he pur- chased fifty acres at Bassett, and again installed a pumping plant, set out walnuts and began the raising of alfalfa. This property he sold seven months later at a profit of $7,000, in the three years thus occupied having cleared $15,000 above all expenses. These properties have since sold for additional profit.

In 1903 Mr. Dancer located in El Monte and is now engaged in the real-estate business. He built a residence on Tyler street, where he now makes his home, and which is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Bessie L. Beck, a native of El Monte. She is a daughter of John Beck. Tr .. a native of Texas, and a granddaughter of John Beck, Sr., who removed from Indiana to Texas and thence crossed the plains with ox- teams in 1854 and located in El Monte. He en- gaged in freighting to Virginia City, heing the

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pioneer freighter over the Tehachapi mountains. He had ten yoke of oxen to pull one thousand pounds, he having to break the trail. Later he removed to San Jose and engaged as a cattle- man and farmer. After twelve years he re- turned to El Monte and followed farming for some years, finally locating permanently in San Jose, where he is now living retired from the active cares of life. He married Annie Burke, who was born in Texas and died in El Monte. She had eight children, all of whom are now de- ceased. John Beck, Jr., was a farmer and died in San Jose at the age of twenty-eight years. His wife, formerly Katie Powell, passed away in Orange, Cal. She was a daughter of John Powell, a pioneer of Los Angeles, where he died. They were the parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Dancer is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Dancer have three children, Winnie, Charles and Zola. Mr. Dancer belongs to the Christian Church, while his wife is a Baptist. Politically he is a Democrat.

CHARLES CHAPMAN COX. Very early in the colonial history of our county. the Cox family became identified with the settlement of the Carolinas and aided in the development of raw tracts of land into valuable plantations. The genealogical records trace the lineage from John Cox, a native of South Carolina and a planter by occupation, to his son, William H., who was a civil engineer and planter and for thirty years held office as county surveyor. Next in line of descent was S. S., who was born in Chesterfield county, S. C., and followed his father's occupations of planter, civil engin- eer and surveyor.

During 1857 he moved across the line into North Carolina and settled at Lilesville, Anson county. As a civil engineer in the engineering department he served under General Beauregard in the Civil war. Removing to Arkansas in 1868 he settled in Pike county, where he was engaged as a civil engineer and filled the office of county surveyor. Eventually he removed to Texas and settled on a grain and stock ranch near Jewett, Leon county, where he remained until his death in 1903, at the age of seventy- seven years. Fraternally he was a Mason and in religious connections, with his wife, held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, like himself, was a native of South Carolina and a descendant of an old southern family. She was a daughter of John Chapman, who was of English descent and who followed the builder's trade in the south. Two years be- fore the death of her husband she passed away in Texas at seventy-eight years of age.

Four sons comprised the family of S. S. and

Sarah (Chapman ) Cox, and three are still liv- ing, Charles C. being the eldest of the family and the only one to settle in California. Born at Chesterfield, S. C., January 27, 1856, he was one year old when the family removed to Liles- ville, N. C., and there he laid the foundation of his education in the common schools. Indelibly impressed upon his mind are the days of the Civil war, with their anxieties, privations and perils, and though he was but a small child at the time he has a keen recollection of what the war meant to his own people and to the country. At the age of twelve years, in 1868, he accom- panied the family to Arkansas, where for a time he attended school. After moving to Texas in 1872 he was a student in the academy at Rogers Prairie, Leon county. At the age of nineteen years he began to teach school and for two years followed the occupation in Texas, after which he taught for one year in Clark county, Ark., and then turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. Considerable success met his efforts as a carpenter and thus he was led to take up con- tracting. In May of 1887 he came to San Di- ego, where he has since engaged in contract- ing and building. Among his contracts were those for the Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium and the residences of L. Brinton, H. E. Mills and James Connell. Meanwhile he has erected two houses on his own property, one of these being at No. 3680 Fourth street, where he and his wife now reside. Mrs. Cox was formerly Miss Elizabeth Brinton, of Arkansas, and was born in Pennsyl- vania. In religions connections they are identi- fied with the First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, while fraternally they affiliate with the Knights and Ladies of Security. Along the line of his chosen occupation Mr. Cox holds membership with the Master Builders' Associ- ation and maintains a deep and constant inter- est in all measures for the benefit of builders and the permanent progress of their work.

J. E. MORRELL. The commercial interests of Redondo have a capable representative in the person of J. E. Morrell, who since July, of 1902, has made his home in this place and has acted as agent for the wholesale grain firm of New- mark & Edwards, having charge of their busi- ness at this point. Since 1904 he has been in partnership with P. S. Venable, under the firm name of P. S. Venable & Co., street contractors. Another enterprise receiving his attention and financial co-operation is the Redondo Milling Company, in which he maintains an active in- terest.

In that portion of East Tennessee lying be- tween Virginia on the north and North Carolina on the south Mr. Morrell first opened his eyes

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to the light. His parents, J. W. and Anna (Edwards) Morrell, were natives of Tennessee, the former descended from a colonial family of Virginia. By occupation a miner, after he came to California in 1887, he settled at Gonzales, Monterey county, and later became interested in the mines of Sierra county, where he still conducts a general mining business, but makes his home in Florida. While living in Monterey county he was bereaved by the death of his wife. Five children were born of their union, all still living, the eldest of these being J. E., who was born in Washington county, Tennessee., near Bluff City, February 18, 1875, and was four- teen years of age when the family established their home in the west. After completing the studies of the grammar schools he became clerk in a grocery and subsequently learned the grain business while employed by a grain company. In 1896 he entered the Los Angeles Business College and the following year was graduated, after which he became bookkeeper with the Southern Pacific Milling Company of Gonzales. In the employ of the same company he was stationed consecutively at Gonzales, Guada- loupe, Lompac and Oxnard. On his return to Los Angeles he became a bookkeeper with the grain firm of Newmark & Edwards, in whose interests he came to Redondo to assume the management of their business at this place.

The marriage of Mr. Morrell took place at Guadaloupe, this state, and united him with Miss Alice McPhaul, daughter of William and Alice (Battles) McPhaul, natives respectively of North Carolina and Erie county, Pennsyl- vania. When a young man Mr. McPhaul sought the opportunities of the then undeveloped coast regions and for years carried on an extensive business as a sheep-raiser. Since his death, which occurred at Guadaloupe, his widow has remained at the old homestead in that town. Mrs. Morrell was born and educated in Guada- loupe, and was the third in a family comprising four daughters and one son. Of her marriage there is one son, Lyman Hadley, who is receiv- ing his education in the schools of Los Angeles countv. While he has never been an ardent politician Mr. Morrell keeps thoroughly posted concerning the issues confronting our govern- ment and in his views coincides with the Demo- cratic party.

CYRUS MASON PARSONS. A thorough- ly successful man and one who occupies a con- spicuous place in affairs is C. M. Parsons, who by his business ability and genuine worth as a man has become a prominent and influential fac- tor in the well-being of Claremont. With a wealth of experience to his credit gained in the

southern and middle-west states he came to Claremont in 1903 and as in his previous places of residence he threw his whole soul into the opportunities which awaited him, thus enrich- ing and strengthening his own native capabili- ties and at the same time adding another pillar of strength to each and every organization to which he ient his name and influence. He is president of the Citizens' State Bank of Clare- mont, is interested in the Savings Bank and Trust Company of Pomona, is a director in the Citizens' Light and Water Company of Claremont, and is secretary and treasurer of the Claremont Inn. In addition to these numerous and important business connections he is also in- terested in the Crossett Lumber Company of Arkansas and the Jackson Lumber Company in Florida and Alabama.

Mr. Parsons is a native of the middle west, born near Davenport, Iowa, January 14, 1856, the son of C. M. and Eliza (Hazen) Parsons, both of whom were born in Massachusetts. On the maternal side he is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, Great-grandfather Hazen being a participant in that conflict. During the '40s C. M. Parsons, Sr., immigrated to what at that time was considered the frontier, and as a pioneer farmer in Scott county, Iowa, he cul- tivated the virgin soil in that vicinity until his removal to Tabor, that state, in the latter place becoming interested in the lumber business. He is now a resident of Claremont, Cal., as is also his wife, and at the respective ages of eighty- one and seventy-six years both are in excellent health, with faculties still acute. Seven children were born to this worthy couple, but two of the number are deceased. The eldest, C .. H., is a resident of Pasadena; C. M. is the next in or- der of birth; A. H. is in the real-estate business in Salt Lake City; H. E. is a grain merchant in Philo, Champaign county, Ill .; and Walter M., a graduate of Grinnell College, has for many years been connected with the noble work of the Y. M. C. A. organization; for years he was assistant state secretary of Iowa, and is now one of the international secretaries, his territory cov- ering southwestern Canada and the northwest- ern part of the United States, his headquarters being in Minneapolis.

The early years of C. M. Parsons were as- sociated with the locality around Davenport, Iowa, and at the age of twenty years he began his self-supporting career by teaching school in Scott county, that state, following this for three years. From 1880 until 1893 he engaged in farming in Iowa, in the latter year removing to Fordyce, Ark., where he became interested in the lumber business. The Fordyce Lumber Company, with which he then associated himself and with which he was locally connected for four

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years, make a specialty of the manufacture of yellow pine, having a capacity for turning out one hundred and twenty thousand feet per day. Though still retaining his interest in the com- pany he removed to Tabor, Iowa, in 1887 and established himself in the retail lumber business, but sold out six years later to take up his resi- dence in the west. However, he still retains his interest in the Fordyce Lumber Company, as he does also with the Crossett Lumber Company of Arkansas, and the Jackson Lumber Company, which latter has offices in Florida and Alabama. In coming to Claremont Mr. Parsons had defin- ite plans laid for making his permanent resi- dence here, in evidence of which he purchased a fine residence on Alexander and Harrison streets, where with his family he now makes his home. The existence of the Citizens' State Bank of Claremont is a result of the personal efforts of W. N. Beach, who after working up the proj- ect enlisted the co-operation of Mr. Graham and Mr. Parsons. The officers of the institution are C. M. Parsons, president; George Jencks, vice- president ; Mr. Graham, L. N. Smith, W. N. Beach, George Jencks and C. M. Parsons, di- rectors. Mr. Parsons is also secretary and treas- urer of the Claremont Inn, which was erected during the same year, is a director in the Citi- zens' Light and Water Company, and is con- nected with numerous other enterprises, both here and in Pomona.

In Scott county, Iowa, Mr. Parsons was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Gates, a native of that county, and six children have been born to them : Jessie ; Walter H., who graduated from Pomona College in 1904 and is now connected with the Crossett Lumber Company, of Crossett, Ark .; Nellie, a student of Pomona College, class of 1907; Hazen, who is a student in that institution and will graduate with the class of 1909; Cor- nelia, a member of the senior class preparatory ; and Howard, the youngest of the family. Both Mr. Parsons and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, he being chairman of the board of trustees, and also a member of the building committee of the new church. The work of the latter body bore fruit in the erection of the beautiful house of worship which was dedicated and occupied for the first time in June of 1906. Politically Mr. Parsons gives his sup- port to the Prohibitionist cause, and fraternally he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the camp at Claremont.

NIELS PETER JOHNSON. Perhaps no example could be found on Los Angeles county more significant of the opportunities offered by this portion of the state than that furnished by the life of Niels P. Johnson, who settled on his

ranch near Pomona at a time when there was nothing to intercept the view from his ranch to the heart of the city. His ranch is a part of what is known as the Kingsley tract, and was formerly used as a sheep range. At the time he took possession of it in 1883 it held forth little inducement as a future garden spot, but Mr. Johnson had wisely chosen this particular por- tion on account of the water facilities, which he observed were excellent, and the wisdom of his judgment and foresight has been borne out in the results of later years. The Kingsley Tract Water Company, Limited, supplies the ad- jacent country with an abundance of water, and this too at a much lower rate than prevails in any other part of Southern California.

As is the case with many of California's thrifty ranchers, Mr. Johnson is of foreign birth, born in Aalborg, Jutland, Denmark, Feb- ruary 3, 1843, the descendant of an old Copen- hagen family. In that city his step-father, Fer- dinand Nielson, was born and followed the trade of butcher. His wife, Petrea Nielson, was a native of Aalborg, she too coming of an old-es- tablished family in Denmark. Of the three children born to his parents Niels P. was the eldest, and was educated in the public schools of Aalborg. From the age of fourteen until seven- teen he applied himself to learning the butcher's trade, but instead of following it he went to sea and for about three years was engaged in the coasting trade, visiting many of the prin- cipal European ports. Subsequently he returned to Denmark and worked at his trade until May, 1866, when he set sail from Copenhagen, by way of Hamburg and Liverpool, for New York. He arrived at his destination without mishaps to mar the journey and from New York proceeded direct to Chicago, Ill. Soon afterward, however, he made his way to Oconto, Oconto county, Wis., where he was employed by a lumber com- pany for six years. Later he became interested in farming in that vicinity, clearing a thirty- acre farm from the wilderness and making of it a valuable tract. Disposing of his Wisconsin interests in 1878 he went to Franklin county, Iowa, that year, purchasing eighty acres of new land ten miles west of Hampton. Three years later, however, he removed still further west, coming to the Pacific coast in 1881, and after spending one year in San Francisco and the same length of time in Bridgeport, Mono coun- ty, he began his career in Pomona in 1883. His first purchase in the Kingsley tract consisted of five acres and was located east of San Antonio and south of San Bernardino avenue. Two

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 125

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234